Protective case for toothbrushes



April 7, 1964 w. E. SCOTT 3,127,985

PROTECTIVE CASE FOR TOOTHBRUSHES Filed Oct. 31, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WADE E. SCOTT A ril 7, 1964 w. E. SCOTT 3,127,985

PROTECTIVE CASE FOR TOOTHBRUSHES Filed Oct. 31, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 64 4 2e 62 2s 66 43 45 42 46 "as 27 I2 58 47 WADE E. SCOTT- April 7, 1964 w. E. scoTT 3,127,985

' PROTECTIVE CASE FOR TOOTHBRUS-HES Filed 001;. 31, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 6

66 Fig. 7

2 2 7 INVENTOR WADE E. SCOTT United States Patent 3,127,985 PRQTECTIVE CASE FOR TQGTHBRUSHES Wade E. Scott, Box 323, Cordele, Ga. Filed Oct. 31, 1961, er. No. 148,393 1 (Ilairn. (61. 206-151) This invention relates to toothbrushes.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved case for the brush head of toothbrushes in which the bristles thereof are so incased when the brush is not in use that they are protected against the entrance of dust, dirt and other foreign matter thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved protective case of the above type which is adapted to be formed of a single body of molded plastic material having a pair of complementary half sections arranged to be folded together to incase the brush head of the tooth- .brush.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved case of the above type for toothbrushes which is arranged to surround and support the toothbrush bristles on all sides in order to prevent the spreading and flattening of the bristles thereby increasing the useful life of the toothbrush.

"Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved protective case of the above type, which is easily applied to or removed from the brush head and is efllectively attached to the brush head to fully conceal all of the bristles thereof when positioned thereon.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an improved protective case for the brush head of a toothbrush which is formed of molded plastic material that can elasily be kept clean and sanitary.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved protective case for the brush head of a toothbrush that is simple in construction, light in weight, strong and reliable in use, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purpose for which the same is intended.

With these and other objects in view, which will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the various unique, practical and illustrative imp-rovements shown in the accompanying drawings, the present invention comprises the novel elements, features of construction and arrangement of parts in cooperative relationship, as more particularly indicated and defined by the hereto appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a protective case for a toothbrush constructed according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the two body sections of the case in open position with the brush head of a toothbrush arranged in one of the half sections;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the two half sections of the case fully closed about the brush head of the toothbrush;

FIG. -3 is an enlarged perspective view of the case illustrailing the two body sections thereof in wide open position without the brush head of a toothbrush arranged therein;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the case fllustrating the two body sections thereof in open position and with the brush head of a toothbrush mounted in one section and disposed in an initial position therein;

FIG. 5 is a transverse section taken along the line 55 of *FIG. 4, illustrating the two body sections of the case in closed position by full lines and in open position by broken lines;

FIG. 6 is an elevatiin of the case as seen from. the arrow 6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 77 of 3,127,985 Patented Apr. 7, 1964 FIG. 6, illustrating the position of the brush head of the toothbrush when the two half sections are closed; and

FIG. 8 is a detail section taken ailong the line 88 of FIG. 7, the brush head of the toothbrush being omitted so as to illustrate clearly the detail construction of one end portion of the case.

Referring to the drawings, the brush head 12 of a toothbrush 14 is adapted to be disposed in a case 16 formed of a single body of molded plastic rna-terial having a pair of complementary half sections 18 and 20.

Although the half sections of the case 16 are generally similar in construction, the section 18 will be referred to as the bottom section in order to it rfirom the section 20 which will be referred to as the top section.

The bottom section 18 of the case 16 comprises a wall 22 of suitable configuration, around the periphery of which there is provided an upstanding flange 23 of suitable height.

The flange 23 has a longitudinal section 24 along the inner edge of the wall 22.

Along the far edge of the wall 22, the flange 23 is formed with a portion consisting of a section 25 which extends from the section 24 for a suitable distance to an intermediate section 26, which is arranged at an angle to the section 25. From the intermediate section 26 the far edge portion of the flange 23 is formed with a third section 27.

Along the outer edge of the wall 22 the flange 23 is formed with a longitudinal section 28 which is annanged substantially in parallel relationship with respect to the longitudinal section 24.

Along the near edge of the wall 22 the flange 23 is formed a section 30 which extends ironr the section 28 toward the section 24 and terminates short of the section 24 to provide la. notch 32 in the flange for a purpose to be hereinaliter more fully described.

Intermediate its length the section 28 of the flange 23 is formed with a notch 34 which extends downwardly in the flange a suitable distance and which is closed at the top by a bar 36 arranged on the outer surfiace of the flange in the manner clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The top section 20 of the case 16 comprises a wall 42 of suitable configuration, around the periphery of which there is provided a flange 43.

The flange 43 has a longitudinal section 44 along the inner edge of the wall 42.

Along the rfar edge of the wall 42, the flange 43 is formed with a portion consisting of a section 45 which extends from the section 44 for a suitable distance to an intermediate section 46, which is arranged at an angle vto the section 45. From the intermediate section 46 the far edge portion of the flange 43 is formed with a third section 47.

Along the outer edge of the Wall 42 the flange 43 is formed with a longitudinal section 48 which is arranged substantially in parallel relationship with respect to the longitudinal section 44.

Along the near edge of the Wall 42 the flange 43 is formed with a section 50 which extends from the section 48 toward the section 44 and terminates short of the section 44 to provide a notch 52 in the flange for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

Intermediate its length the section 48 of the flange 23 is formed with an upstanding rib 54 having a bead 56 extending lengthwise thereof for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

A lug 58 extends upwardly item the inner surface of the section 47 of the flange 43 tor a purpose to be hereinafter more fully' described.

The two half sections 18 and 20 of the case 16 are connected together by means of a web '60 of relatively thin plastic material.

The web 60 is arranged between the longitudinal sections 24 and 44 of the flanges 23 and 43 respectively, and is made integral therewith during the molding operation, said web 6% preferably being disposed adjacent to the upper surfaces of said flange sections. The construction and arrangement of the parts is such that the web 60 provides a hinge, by means of which the two half sections '18 and are pivotally connected so that said half sections can be easily manipulated from the open position shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, to the closed position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5.

With the case 16 in open position, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the brush head '12 of the toothbrush 14 can be placed into either halif section, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1 or in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4.

The two sections 18 and 20 are provided with offset portions 62 and 64 respectively, due to the manner in which the flange sections and 45 are arranged in an offset relation with respect to the flange sections 27 and 47 respectively. These olfset portions '62 and 64 each provide a pocket in which is adapted to be arranged the end portion 66 of the brush head 12, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 4.

The case 16 should have an overall length sufficient to accommodate the brush head '12, so that the bristles 68 thereof will be entirely enclosed within the case.

When the brush head 12 is arranged in one half section 18 of the case with the back of the brush head positiOned against the wall 24, the handle of the toothbrush 14 will project outwardly through the opening in the end wall of the case section provided by the notch 32. The other half section 20 of the case is then swung over on to the section 18 to engage the surface of the flange 43 with the surface of the flange 23, whereupon the rib 54 is inserted in the notch 34, the bead 56 engaging the underside of the bar 36 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5, thereby locking the two sections 18 and 2h together.

During the closing movement of one case section with the other case section in the manner above described, the lug 58 moves into the section 18 against the inner surface of the wall 27 of the flange 2 3 and engages the bristles 68 at the end of the brush head 12, thereby squeezing the bristles in a direction toward the other end of the brush head. This squeezing action imparted to the bristles of the brush head causes the brush to move slightly lengthwise within the case, from the position shown in FIG. 4 toward the position shown in FIG. 7 whereby the bristles are so incased that they retain their normal position. At the same time the case will be closed to such an extent that the entrance of dust, dirt and other foreign matter into the case is prevented.

It will be noted that the case above described provides improved means arranged to surround and support the toothbrush bristles on all sides in order to prevent the spreading and flattening of the bristles thereby increasing the useful life of the toothbrush.

If so desired a plurality of vent holes 72 and 74 may be formed in the walls '22 and 42 respectively, said Vent holes being so arranged as to provide means by which 4 moisture within the closed case can readily evaporate therefrom.

Also the interior surfaces of the two half sections 18 and 20 are smooth so that the case can easily be kept clean and sanitary.

The exterior surface of the walls 22 and 42 may be provided with ribs '76 and 78 respectively, for reinforcing the walls to prevent buckling thereof and at the same time add a decorative motif to the exterior of the case, as shown in FIG. 2.

While I have described the invention in great detail and with respect to the present preferred form. thereof, it is not desired to be limited thereto since changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claim rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claim are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What I claim is:

A protective case for the head portion of a tooth brush of the type having a handle portion and a brush head portion, said case comprising two separable hinged half sections, each half section comprising top, bottom, side and end members, each of said side and end members having vertically walled lower portions and inwardly tapering upper portions, the lower vertical portions of the ends closest to the handle portion having aligned notches formed therein for the reception of the handle portion, the lower vertical portions of the ends remote from the handle being offset outwardly from the upper vertical portion to form a pocket for the end of the brush head, an angular lug on the upper end portion of one hinged member above one of said offset lower portions, adapted to fit and bear against the inside wall of its a jacent inwardly tapered end portion when said case is closed, whereby the bristles on the end of the brush head adjacent said lug will be cainrned slightly inwardly, moving the brush head slightly longitudinally to cause the bristles on the other end of said head to contact their adjacent tapering upper end portions, the upper inwardly tapering side portions also engaging the bristles on the sides of the brush when said case is closed, thus forcing the bristles inwardly from all sides and returning them to their normal position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 908,558 Gildemeister Ian. 5, 1909 1,041,315 Marx Oct. 15, 1912 2,515,113 Chaplin July 11, 1950 2,845,104 Frankel July 29, 1958 3,025,950 Nathan Mar. 20, 1962 

